Planet Earth's Top 10 Natural Disasters

Although unlikely to become a David Letterman "Top 10," apocalyptic speculation has achieved a kind of gruesome popularity in our post 9/11 world. While war and automobiles kill more people than nature (so far), here are our choices for the Top Ten natural disasters:

#10) Midwest Earthquake
It has been nearly two centuries since a series of three magnitude-8 quakes shook the then-sparsely populated Midwest, centered near New Madrid, Missouri. Another big one is inevitable. Now the region is heavily populated, yet building codes are generally not up to earthquake snuff. The geology of the region amplifies the effects, too. Shelves would rattle from Boston to South Carolina, and some homes along the Mississippi would sink into oblivion.

#9) Super Volcano
It probably won't happen for hundreds or possibly even millions of years, but nobody really knows when Yellowstone will blow again, destroying life for hundreds of miles around and burying half the country in ash up to 3 feet deep. Still, a recently discovered surface bulge in Yellowstone National Park has scientists speculating.

#8) Tsunamis
A fault line in the Caribbean has generated deadly tsunamis before. Up to 35 million people in the Gulf Coast region could be threatened by one in the not-to-distant future. An earthquake fault just off Southern California could generate a major quake and a $42 billion tsunami that would strike so fast many coastal residents would not have time to escape.

#7) Hurricanes
Global warming is intensifying hurricane activity around the globe, and this season the Northeast is especially vulnerable. Major hurricanes have made direct hits on New York's boroughs before, but the interval between them is so long that people forget, and officials fear they might not take evacuation orders seriously. The larger problem: It would take nearly 24 hours to make a proper evacuation of New York City, but hurricanes move more swiftly as they race north, so real warning time could be just a few hours.

#6) Killer Heat Waves
Heat waves kill more U.S. residents than any other natural disaster. As many as 10,000 people have died in Europe's recent heat wave. As global warming accelerates, electricity systems are strained, and the population ages, the risk grows.

#5) Pacific Northwest Mega-Earthquake
Geologists know it's just a matter of time before another 9.0 or larger earthquake strikes somewhere between Northern California and Canada. The shaking would be locally catastrophic, but the biggest threat is the tsunami that would ensue from a fault line that's seismically identical to the one that caused the deadly 2004 tsunami in Indonesia.

#4) Rising Oceans
You've heard the jokes about beachfront property in Arizona, seen maps showing Venice, Holland, half of Florida, and parts of most coastal cities underwater. The melting of the polar caps make it only a matter of time before millions of people living on the coasts are forced to relocate.

#3) Pandemic
The Bubonic Plague killed 90% of those who were exposed. There were major epidemics in the 6th, 14th, and 17th centuries with over 137 million victims total. AIDS continues to devastate the African continent, all the more tragic because it is to a great degree preventable. Public health officials around the world remain on high alert because of increasing concerns about the prospect of influenza pandemic, which many experts believe to be inevitable. If the avian flu jumps the species barrier over one third of us could become infected, with a high percentage of fatalities. And the virus can mutate faster than a vaccine could be prepared and distributed. Anticipating social breakdown, some epidemiologists are already stocking emergency food supplies.

#2) Asteroid Impact
Scientists can't say when the next devastating asteroid impact will occur. Odds are it won't be for decades or centuries, but an unknown space rock could make a sucker punch any time. Many experts say planning to deal with a continent-wide catastrophe should begin now. A large enough asteroid making a direct hit could generate a tsunami, flatten a city, or spread enough dust to blot out the sun for decades, destroy agriculture, and precipitate a new ice age.

#1) Total Destruction of Earth
Okay, it may be five billion years before our aging sun expands to incinerate our little blue orb, but the planet could become uninhabitable well before that. The dinosaurs had a 350 million year run as "top dogs," while human civilization spans a mere 10,000 years. With humanity's limited track record, can we say we've really mastered long-range planning? Let's get prepared....

Source: "News-Alert-Specials from The Survival Center," March 2, 2006. For science updates and emergency preparedness visit www.survivalcenter.com.

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Lakshmi's Emergency Preparation Without The Paranoia

If discussing the apocalypse (see above) depresses you, here's relief: The whole point of evaluating disaster scenarios is to encourage preparation, not paralysis. Lakshmi Collins knows this from firsthand experience. Lakshmi, hypnotherapist and longtime OPEN EXCHANGE lister, also is a volunteer for the American Red Cross who has taught Disaster Preparedness for many years. She observes:

"From years of experience in Disaster Relief, I had graphic examples of the pitfalls of unpreparedness. If nature didn't supply the adrenaline, I knew how to induce anxiety by tossing out a few horror stories. I thought I was using the nature of the human mind, which seemed unwilling or unable to focus without some fear. But I had failed to fully grasp the nature of the mind. Fear can grab attention, but it does not necessarily lead to action, especially efficient action. Fear can motivate but it does not empower.

"In Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, I watched as the national disaster relief system went into overwhelm and crumbled. A series of bureaucratic and natural events created the 'perfect storm' for FEMA and the Red Cross and both ran out of supplies, and energy. The system was so overtaxed that virtually everyone exhausted themselves in the effort. We tried, but could not take care of everyone who looked to us for help. Those who were more independent (better prepared) were able to help themselves and those around them. Preparation made a big difference. Those who sat and waited for help became frustrated and angry and felt betrayed.

"I wondered why people wouldn't want to reduce their dependence and vulnerability if they have the option. I came to the conclusion that most people just don't want to deal with disaster until they have to. It's not only disaster, it's change – mainly unanticipated change, that brings up anxiety and resistance. Since I had found that Disaster Relief could be done from a different perspective, I began wondering how to make the same shift for Emergency Preparedness – overcoming natural resistance, replacing adrenaline and the fear factor with clear energy.

"If we have not previously considered the concept that we exist separate from all of the things we identify with (possessions, homes, jobs, even our bodies) we will most likely go into a state of shock and fear – feeling helpless and vulnerable. I concluded that a true Preparedness Plan would do more than focus on accumulating supplies and waiting for something to happen. Ideally it would include preparing to keep our bodies healthy, and also preparing ourselves mentally and spiritually to accept change in whatever form or time frame it arrives. In a major disaster, it's possible that we could be separated from everything we have accumulated."

Lakshmi has put together a 16 Week Preparation for Change that spreads the effort and expense over 4 months. It includes detailed lists of food, supplies and tools that would be nice to have in an emergency situation. She also includes suggestions to strengthen bonds with our communities, families, and personal Spiritual Connection.

Source: The 16 Week Preparation for Change, www.cristalverde.com/change.

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Optimism Increases Lifespan, Especially Men's

As reported in Scientific American Mind, mounting research indicates that optimism could extend your life. The latest study comes form Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Agreement with statements such as "I still have many goals to strive for" was highly predictive of longevity. Subjects were traced nine years after being surveyed, and death rates of optimistic men were 63% lower than those less optimistic. Death rates for women were reduced 35%. (Hmmm.... Do men need optimism more than women?)

The Dutch study controlled for dietary factors, smoking habits, physical activity, and alcohol use attempting to isolate optimism's protective influence. Some of that influence drives healthy behavior. "Optimists will try to avoid and escape bad habits," explains Martin E. P. Seligman, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania.

Seligman conducted a separate study whereby pessimistic college students attended "optimism workshops" and subsequently had fewer visits to their school's health services department. They also had lower rates of depression and anxiety than classmates who had no happiness classes.

While OPEN EXCHANGE doesn't offer "optimism workshops" as such, here you'll find listings for hundreds of classes and seminars in the arts, business, health, and personal development. Our own informal survey tells us that just getting out and meeting new people is likely to put a smile on your face, if not actually extend your life!

Source: Scientific American Mind, February/March 2006

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Even Walgreens Goes GREEN!

Okay, time to get past the doom and gloom and focus on what's going right! Renewable power gets ever more hip with corporate America. Seems "The Man" just can't get enough clean energy. Now Walgreens and FedEx Kinko's joins Whole Foods as corporate boosters of renewable power. The drugstore chain will install solar-power systems at 96 stores and two distribution centers in California, along with 16 stores in New Jersey.

Relatively, it's a drop in the bucket — Walgreens runs over 5,000 stores. But the systems are expected to replace dirty-energy use equivalent to over 22 million gallons of gas. Meanwhile, FedEx Kinko's announced that it is increasing the company's green-power purchases to about 40 million kilowatt-hours — enough to prevent more than 26,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

Source: Grist, 1/13/06, www.grist.org.

Home Insecticides May Double Risk for Childhood Leukemia

Last issue OPEN EXCHANGE reported on the link between pesticides and Parkinson's Disease. Now French medical researchers have discovered yet another reason to practice nontoxic pest control around the home: It may reduce your kids' risk of acute leukemia.

The team's study, published 1/17/06 in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, found that children in homes where mothers reported using insecticides while pregnant and after birth face a two-fold increase in risk for the fatal blood disease. The study particularly targets compounds — like plant sprays, mosquito repellants, and lice-killing shampoos – that contain a group of pesticides called carbamates. The link between pesticides and leukemia is still being hotly debated, but the doctors say their finding should encourage folks to take action now.

Source: Grist, January 17, 2006, www.grist.org.

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Love Heals Physical Wounds

New research into the mind-body connection shows that arguing less with your spouse can actually help you heal faster. Ohio State University researchers found that wounds on couples who expressed open hostility healed at 60% of the rate of non-hostile couples. They conclude that minimizing stress for patients scheduled for surgery could actually shorten hospital stays and save money.

The researchers focused on a group of 42 married couples who had been together an average of at least 12 years. Each couple was admitted into the University's General Clinical Research Center for two, 24-hour-long visits, separated by a two-month interval. During each visit, both the husband and wife were fitted with a small suction device which created eight tiny uniform blisters on their arms. The skin was removed from each blister and another device placed directly over each small wound, forming a protective bubble, from which researchers could extract fluids that normally fill such blisters. (Ouch! Sometimes love hurts!)

The husbands and wives also completed questionnaires intended to gauge their level of stress at the beginning of the experiment. Each person was also fitted with a catheter through which blood could be drawn for later analysis. During the first visit, each spouse was asked to talk for several minutes about some characteristic or behaviour which he or she would like to change. This was a supportive, positive discussion.

But during the second visit, they were asked to talk about an area of disagreement which provoked strong feelings. Analysis showed wounds took a day longer to heal after the arguments than they did after the initial supportive discussion. Wounds on the hostile couples healed at only 60% of the rate of couples considered to have low levels of hostility.

Blood samples from those highly hostile couples showed differences as well. Levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a key immune system chemical that controls wound healing, were also particularly elevated in the hostile couples. A High IL-6 level is implicated in a range of age-related illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and arthritis.

Researcher Professor Jan Kiecolt-Glaser offered, "In our past wound-healing experiments, we looked at more severe stressful events. This was just a marital discussion that lasted only a half-hour. The fact that even this can bump the healing back an entire day for minor wounds says that wound-healing is a really sensitive process."

Professor Steve Bloom, an expert in stress at Imperial College London, said, "These findings are interesting, and illustrate yet again the control that the mind has over the body." Andrew Weil, MD, renowned expert in integrative medicine, summarizes, "This study shows another good reason to be gentler with loved ones and practice stress reduction techniques."

Sources:
BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4499080.stm
Andrew Weil's Health Newsletter, February 2006

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Dean Ornish, MD, Disputes Women's Low-Fat Diet Study

Confused by those recent stories saying that low fat-diets don't work? Dean Ornish, MD, founder of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute, was the first clinician who demonstrated the connection between diet and health, proving that heart disease could be reversed by adhering to an ultra low-fat diet. Reporting for Newsweek online, Dr. Ornish disputes the conclusion of a new Women's Health Initiative dietary modification study that low-fat diets don't protect against heart disease, stroke, breast or colon cancer:

"The investigators acknowledged that the study had some serious limitations. The study participants did not reduce their dietary fat very much - 29 percent of their diet was comprised of fat, not the study's goal of 20 percent... They did not increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables very much... The comparison group also reduced its consumption of fat almost as much and increased its consumption of fruits and vegetables, making it harder to show between-group differences. Neither group significantly changed its consumption of grains... The study did not last long enough to expect to see a difference in preventing cancer....

"Also, this study didn't distinguish between fats that are beneficial and ones that are harmful. The omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, mackerel, halibut, walnuts, and flax may reduce your risk of a heart attack by 50 percent or more, according to several [other] studies."

Dr. Ornish concludes that moderate changes are not enough. "The real lesson of the Women's Health Initiative study is this: if you don't change much, you don't improve much. Small changes in diet don't have much effect on preventing heart disease and cancer in those at high risk. However, bigger changes in diet and lifestyle may prevent heart attacks in almost everyone."

Source: Newsweek, www.newsweek.com, 2/ 7/2006

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Retirement Happiness Rx: It Takes More Than Money

Research reveals that happiness depends on how you manage your time and money, not just having money. As reported in Money magazine, a growing body of research on retirement satisfaction says that security, keeping active, and feeling needed were all keys to happiness.

One study by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee economist Keith Bender found that an extra $10,000 of wealth increases the odds that a retiree will rank among the most satisfied by less than 1%. By contrast, feeling secure that you won't outlive your money is very important. Retirees with a traditional pension who get a monthly check for life have been found to be more content than those with the same level of wealth but only a 401(k). Having both a pension and a 401(k) makes for increased happiness. No annuity in your portfolio? Money suggests "investing a portion of your 401(k) or other savings in an 'income annuity'" to give you the security of guaranteed income for life.

But money isn't everything, after all. Urban Institute economist Barbara Butrica found that retirees who both worked and volunteered were 13% more likely to consider themselves 'very satisfied' than those who didn't. The happiness boost trailed off for those working over 200 hours a year, and diminished entirely for those working over 500 hours (average about 10 hours/week). People who worked for pleasure rather than out of necessity felt most satisfied.

Studies also indicate that older retirees tend to feel better about their lives than younger ones. This suggests that there may be a learning curve to the retirement game, just as there is to the game of life.

Baby Boomers are living longer and should be enjoying it more, too. Of course, there are always economic and medical issues that may be out of your control. But the good news is that a healthy mix of work, leisure, and community involvement can make for a happy third act. As Commander Spock would say, "Live long and prosper!"

Source: Money, February 2006